The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-07-28

l the piazza and invited Sam Ruxton TO su
| and spend the night at the ranch, instea
Of taking the long ride to his own quarters
Meantime the two men who had bee
approaching from the north had stopped
and held consultation close to the out
| building in which All Foug was concealed
| Their appearance was sadly against them
One was tall, thin fellow, with a sulles
countensnce and shaggy black hair; tn
other a smaller man with freckled fac
and red whiskers, looking for all the worlt
like ferret. A precious pair OF ruffan'
All Fong thought them, as he strained hi
ears to catch the dialogue, thickly inter
larded with profanity, which lasted for five
minutes and until, having apparently made
up their minds what 70 do they started il
| direction which took them round the cor
| ner of tho ranch-house and toward thu
party on the piazza.
| The Chinese boy, when they had passed
his place Of concealment, emerged, ran
around the house in the opposite direction
| and approached Uncle Jim before the latter
saw the pair.
MASTER" whispered he. ''hsb got two
piece man come. Wantchee stop this side
| tonight. More better you talkee he no car
| stop. Nj can secure he b'long lallee-loon
man Il can prove that they are ladrones or
| robbers)."
"Waal, now" said Uncle Jim. II didn't
| never hev no use for cuss that wears q
pig-tail and eats rats. The Chinese must
CO. says j. Clear out now and go wssnee-
washeee, or whatever you call it."
As All Fong well knew, Uncle Jim's bark
was much worse than his bite, nor was
there any fear that he would disregard q
warning The Chinese boy drew back just
as the two rough fellows came in sight.
| They approached the piazza, and one could
| see the look OF repulsion come on Uncle
Jim's expressive face, as his experienced
eye took in the details Of their obnoxious
appearance. The smaller fellow advanced
as spokesman
81 allow yer disremember me, Mr. Boyle, "
said be, in a voice which he tried in vain
to modulate, and which contrasted curl
ously with his uHctuous manner. 81 knew
yer when yer was a-sinkin' shaft up 20
Central, and was prospectin'. Ny name
is Martin, William Martin; but the boys all
call me Beaver-Dam Bill. This yer's my
pard, Mr.. Moses Smith; him they call Mos-
tang Nose. Say, Uncle Tim, we allowed
yed give US q shake-down fur the night,
fur we've tramped nigh on thirty miles to-
| day and we're jest everlastin'ly played out. "
Uncle Jim's keen eyes were fixed on the
unwholesome pair; evidently, while he did
not recognize them. some vague and fleet
ing memory was suggested by their appear
| ancc, and he was trying to FIX it in his
| mind. The larger of the two shifted his
weight from one foot TO the other as he
glanced away TO the eastward, and the
spokesman found himself unable to look
the old frontiersman fairly in the face. In
deed, his uneasiness was increasing each
moment under the scrutiny to which he was
subjected.
At last Uncle Jim spoke, in slow tones,
and with marked deliberation. This yere
house amt mine" said he land the owner
he's down to Pueblo. Eff We keep on along
the trail thar to the left of tho mesa and
nigh on three mile, yell strike Dutch Pete S
ranch, an he's all fixed to take folks in and
give 'em a square meal an a shakedowE.
It's right over them trees yonder, whar ye
sec" Here he was interrupted.
Fanny Carroll, who mad been inside the
house, suddenly came out and stood on the
piazza.
20, Mr.. Boyle" she cried, ''do not let any
one be turned away from these doors.
These poor men are weary and foot-sore.
They must not be compelled to go farther.
Let US give them shelter, and supper and O
good nights rest"
She made a beautiful picture as she stoed
there, in graceful attitude; with height
ened color, eyes sparkling, rosy lips slightly
apart. Uncle Jim's face relaxed in an in
slant, and the effect of this lovely appari-
tion upon the two wanderers was marvel
ous. Beaver Dam Bill took off his shabby
l. Il T., -, 60 A.
tempt to stammer out his thanks; and
Mustang Nose, turning to look at the ex.
ouisite young girl, showed his astonish-.
meat and interest by complete change of
countenance. Never in all his life of vicissi-
tude, and worse than vicissitudc, had any
one seen on his face such an expression of
surprise, then of almost wondering delight :;
and natural enough, to be sure; for never
in all this same life had he seen such a
sight, much less heard pity for him ex-
pressed in such gentle and dulcet tones.
"Waal," said Uncle Jim, ''thet settles it.
I allow the young lady's boss. Here, you
pig-tailed Chinaman, show these men a
place where they can wash the dust OF
Coloraydo OF of 'em, and give 'em some
grub"
All Fong obeyed with a curious reluct-
ance, and the two men followed him, more
than once turning to look over their shout
ders.
Then came supper, and some pleasant
evening hours on the piazza, under the
bright stars and in the soft air. The two
strangers had supped heartily, and now sat
by themselves, at some distance from the
rest Of the party. When Fanny Carroll
sang, in her lovely and well-traned voice.
~ F,-a, 1,
and let it go out as he held it in his hand.
When most OF the inmates Of the house had
retired, Uncle Jim told All Fong to take the
two men to a chamber at the head of
small stairway leading from the main room
to the ranch. The boy obeyed and then re-
turned to the main room, in which, on the
wide hearth, burned a cheerful fire of logs.
He approached the stalwart frontiersman,
who sat before the fire gazing into its blaz-
ing depths.
Master" said All Fong, she t'luly
b'long lallee-loon man. Mi hear he talkee
They are really robbers. heard them
talk.)" Uncle Jim looked at him gravely
"Ah Fong, or whatever yer blamed
heather name Is" said he, 81 didn't never
think I'd come to say it to Chinee, but
wouldn't be surprised ef yer head was
level. Now you skip to bed an FL stop
right here. Skip, 1 sayp'
All Fong went out, closing the door be-
hind him, but he proceeded no further than
the passage, where he crouched in a corner,
quiet as y mouse.
In the solitude in which much of Uncle
Jim's life was passed, he had formed a
habit Of talking to himself, as All Fong
could now hear him.
"Knowed me, did hei Perhaps he did, and
perhaps he didn't. But 1 could swar I'd
seen tho mean little cuss before. Wonder